January 19, 2011

Low clearance: truckers, this one is for you

A website called 11foot8 videos chronicles "the good, the bad and the ugly" of low clearance truck accidents at a single Durham NC trestle bridge. While one might think this is the purview of inexperienced drivers and rental trucks, the videos don't lie: professionals have had their share of accidents, too.

When professionals make a mistake, the results can turn deadly. In September, four people were killed when a bus crashed into a railroad bridge in Syracuse after deviating from the normal route. And even non-fatal incidents wreak havoc in terms of injuries, property losses, hazards to pedestrians and other drivers, and costly traffic tie ups. Here are photos of four serious nonfatal truck and bridge collisions

Prevention tips
Prevention might seem obvious to some, but approximately 5,000 bridge-truck collisions per year say otherwise. Here are some pointers we gleaned from the pros:

Plan route in advance and stay on route

Check atlas and or gps systems in advance

Keep atlases and gps systems up to date

Check with any state or major city DOTs (examples: NYC; TX); they often provide good information about the local area

Be religious about watching for and heeding signage

If on an unfamiliar route, check with other drivers about hazards

Talk to shippers and receivers on your route about nearby low clearance